Our president has a habit of making ordinary photos seem extraordinary.

As well as being a fine statesman and public representative, one of President Michael D Higgins’ greatest strengths is inadvertently making ordinary pictures of a president into so much more than that. People will remember him queuing in an orderly fashion for an ATM a few years’ back and it’s only a few weeks since the memorable snap of him lifting the National Hurling League trophy with Galway captain David Burke. At the weekend, the president was one of a number of people out and about enjoying the fine weather in Salthill, one of the best places to enjoy the fine weather in Ireland. According to Noel McDonagh from Bohermore in Galway, who took the photo below, Michael D stopped to chat to various people along the promenade, including a casual discussion with a man who had a parrot perched on his shoulder. As you do (as you do, as you do). Pic via Facebook/Noel McDonagh It’s hard to express exactly what makes this photo so great – the fact that Michael D looks so damn comfortable, how many timeshave you ever seen a nation's president engaged in a deep conversation with a man with a parrot on his shoulder – but it’s another one to add to what is already a quite brilliant Michael D collection. The gift that keeps on giving. Cheers to Noel McDonagh for sending this our way. Got a story for JOE? Hit us up on Facebook or Twitter or mail editorial@JOE.ie.